Travel report on a Stopover - Singapore 
              Frank's Stopover 2000 and 2005

On the way to Australia (2000) and New Zealand (2005) we made expanded intermediate stopover in 

City-state Singapore 
with city tour, purchase-stroll, Mount Faber, Orchid Garden, Chinatown, Cheng Ho Harbour Cruise, Cable Car, Sentosa... 

Singapore is considered as the most european metropolis of Asia.
This clean ultra-modern city impressed by its singular mix from skyscrapers and culture, its nice people and the tropical climate are exerting for Europeans. Somebody may regard Singapore as shopping center, in comparison with bangkok, I think Singapore isn't. In any case Singapore is beside Hong Kong one of the first addresses for an expanded intermediate stopover on the way to Downunder. Unfortunately 2000 lasted our Stopover only approx 24 hours, gladly we would spent some more days in the lion city. The possibility for it resulted then in january 2005, where we took nearly 3 full days accomodation at Singapore .

  
    View of the Havelock Road 

Singapore consists of 59 islands, 58 of them altogether have a surface of approx.. 50 square kilometers, the main island has 42 x 23 km and a total area of something over 600 square kilometers. About 7 millions visitors come annually to here. Most islands are either uninhabited, military area or used by industry (scrap iron islands, refineries and oil tanks).

Our Stopover 2000: 
In Frankfurt we took off late in the evening with a Boeing 747 of the australian airline Qantas, we landed after over 12 h flying time on Singapore Changi airport. We had to put back for it approx.. 10,000 km. Singapore Changi airport received us as ultra-modern, large and clearly arranged airport. Fast the entry formalities were settled, the suit-cases taken of the enormous conveyer and the way toward exit hit. At the latest when leaving the terminal building it became us finally clear, that we had arrived at tropical regions. An air received us like from a badly ventilated washhouse: -). The humidity was for us unusually highly. This feeling disappears however quite fast, after few minutes already we were concerned with our transfer to the hotel. Also finding the transporter and stowing the suit-cases away ran like clockwork.  We entered the car, were welcomed in good understandable German and drove off - inside into one of the most modern town centers of the world... 

Our hotel 2000

  
     Copthorne Kings Hotel

The Copthorne Kings hotel, where we were accommodated for the one night in Singapore, is situated near Havelock Road, not far from Singapore River. This was an optimal position for our planned vespertine investigation of the city. 

Our walking route  
Our vespertine walk led us over a total distance from approx.. 12 km. This foot march we had with a 90 % air humidity and 28 degrees above zero, but it should not be for nothing. We visited Chinatown and sauntered there at first over a rather large market. There were all possible and impossible things, up to toads, crow feet and turtles to buy........ a treat for all vegetarians: -) After that it became a little more cultural, as we got to face different chinese temples and sometime - probably more by coincidence - we arrived in an Indian shop quarter. Anyway Singapore is multi-cultural, it has about 140 larger churches, mosques and temples. Besides there are much dozen smaller prayer places. 

Our way led us now toward the scycrabers, the goal was called Stamford Raffles Monument. The Stamford Raffles monument is situated directly at the office- and financial center of the city. Here several restaurants line up and wait, probably quite successfully, for guests. Also "Raffles Landing Site" at Singapore River before the old "Shop of houses" at the Boat Quay is a point of attraction for native ones and tourists from all over the world. 


 
    View from Mount Faber - most beautiful lookout point of the city 

A cable car goes from the Mount Faber through the upper floors of the Cable Car Tower to Sentosa. 

City tour 
On the next morning the city tour began, a well German speaking guide fetched us for it at the hotel. We learned something about various forbidden things - like chewing gum sales from 1992 to 2004, in this time only in pharmacies available,.... In a bus cross and crosswise by Singapore errant, we heard many thinks over history and future and we visited many objects of interest of the city. In following some photos of our route, some temples, the National Orchid Garden, lookout point Mount Faber... 


   
     Entry of the National Orchid Garden 

Over 700 kinds and 2100 breeding are in the collection of the garden. The National Orchid Garden in Singapore is not only for flower friends an experience!


   
     Cheng Ho Harbour Cruise - our tour to turtle island 

It goes past at several dozen ships and the largest container transshipment port of Southeast Asia to an intermediate stop at the island Kusu. Kusu is quite small, but is considered to Muslims and Taoisten as holy. On Kusu the Tua Pekong temple stands. It is a goal of a wallfahrt in the ninth moon month. 


     
     The skyline Singapores taken up during our port round travel.


Our Stopover 2005:
Again from Frankfurt we went cruised in the evening with a Boeing 747 to Singapore. This time we drove in Singapore also with the underground-train, the Cable Car and visited finally the enormous lion on Sentosa...

Our hotel 2005

  
     Furama RiverFront Hotel

The Furama RiverFront Hotel, in which we lived 2005 for a two nights accomodation is also near Havelock Road, not far from the center of Singapore. 

Our routes to foot 
Our walks essentially followed the traces of the year 2000. Somewhat longer we stayed this time at Orchard Road, additionally we drove this time with the underground-train between Chinatown and Boatquay and back ; -)


 
    Frank with Mr. Raffles at the Boat Quay

Sentosa

   
     Travel with the Cable Car from the Mt. Faber

We spent about a half day in the park.

   
     Sentosa Merlion - we visited it and could have a look from its mouth over the city : -) 



Conclusion...
Singapore is very impressing! On your way to Downunder - Australia or new Zealand - have a stopover in Singapore! 

Thanks for your interest and please excuse my very worse english!